29 Aug
2008
29 Aug
'08
12:28 p.m.
Where I think he really shown on the ENIAC however,
was in
getting the level of reliability he did out of the components
of the day. My understanding is that it was one of the
earliest applications of worst-worst design and of derating
the tubes, running them at lower filament and plate voltages
than normal, to extend their lives.
The Phone Company also did this - and were the other place where one
could find huge numbers of tubes used reliably - but they were such a
secret society that the knowledge never really got out.
--
Will